Delivering Opportunity (2016)

Transportation is the largest source of global warming pollution in California, creating nearly 50 percent of the state’s emissions when accounting for production, refining and petroleum use. A growing number of these emissions come from trucks, buses, and other heavy-duty vehicles, which also generate more particulate matter pollution than all of California’s power plants combined.

The good news is that many types of heavy duty vehicles can be electrified - cutting pollution, combating poverty and reducing climate pollution. This growing industry can also be a source of good jobs – jobs that, with the right policies and training programs, can offer important opportunities to workers from underserved communities. This pollution severely impacts public health, especially in low-income communities and communities of color, who are more likely to live near busy roads and other sources of pollution. Vehicle pollution increases risks of cancer, damages respiratory and cardiovascular systems, and can negatively impact children’s lung development and adult’s reproductive health.

Maps of the Los Angeles area suggest the correlation of air pollution (diesel particulate matter in this example) to income and race. Source: EPA 2016B.

Benefits of electric trucks

The deployment of electric trucks and buses can play a significant role in reducing air pollution and global warming emissions in California. For example, when compared to diesel, electric transit buses powered by clean electricity have dramatically lower lifecycle global warming emissions, as well as particulate matter and nitrogen oxide emissions.

Did you know?

Heavy-duty EVs are up to four times more efficient than diesel and natural gas engines.

Advancements in the sector mean that these vehicles are ready to meet many of today’s demanding heavy-duty applications, while being up to four times more efficient when compared to their diesel and natural gas counterparts. The sector also presents a significant opportunity to place underserved community workers into good-paying jobs, especially if the right training programs are provided.

Upfront costs, long-term savings

While electric buses and trucks may have higher initial costs of ownership, reduced maintenance and fueling costs can reduce the total cost of ownership, effectively making them a more affordable choice than traditional diesel buses. For example, the transit bus manufacturer New Flyer advertises savings of up to $400,000 over the lifetime of the bus in reduced fuel costs, which could potentially save public transit agencies up to $100,000 in total ownership costs over the lifetime of the vehicle.

In order to realize these benefits, certain barriers need to be overcome through key policies, like financial incentives – especially for small businesses –to help offset the upfront capital and infrastructure costs; smart utility policies and electricity rate options that facilitate the transition to electrification; and regulatory measures that drive investment, increase volumes, and reduce technology costs.

Cleaner, better jobs

California’s heavy-duty EV sector has great potential for job growth, but strong training programs are needed to make these job opportunities available to underserved communities. Photo: Proterra

New technologies are stimulating demand for new jobs and new skills and employment in the sector is growing throughout the country. In California, clean energy jobs are growing even faster than in the rest of the United States and the state leads the way for simultaneously growing the economy and reducing global warming emissions. Over 500,000 Californians work in energy efficiency, solar power and related fields like electric vehicle production, EV-charging, infrastructure and EV maintenance. Assemblers, electricians and EV-service technicians were identified as important occupations for opening up job opportunities in underserved communities.

These emerging and new occupations have great potential to grow, and can also provide pathways to higher-paying, high quality jobs. However, our analysis shows that most occupations in the heavy-duty EV fields are only moderately accessible to underserved communities because of the level of experience and preparation they require. Indeed, when we assessed jobs that pay workers above minimum wage, we consistently found an increasing need for workers with electrical skills and electrical-safety training throughout most occupations related to the electrification of trucks and buses. This makes access to training crucial.

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This is why, with the right training programs and workplace policies in place, the electric bus and truck industry will be able to deliver cleaner air, reduce global warming emissions, and create a more equitable economy in California and the rest of the nation.

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